View Service Folder For Norman

Funeral services for Norman Frey, 94, of Mobridge will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 5, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be at 5 PM with a prayer service at 7 PM Friday at the funeral home. Norman passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at the Walworth County Care Center in Selby.

God, Family and Farming

Norman Frey was born on December 18,1927 to John and Katie (Sittner) Frey. He was the 3 ^rd of nine children, or as Norman always said, three and a half dozen children--3 boys and a half dozen girls. He was baptized on January 22,1928 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in White Butte, and was confirmed at the same church on July 30, 1939. He lived his early years in White Butte, South Dakota, where he also attended grade school. The family later moved to a farm north of Watauga.

After 8 ^th grade, he spent a year helping on the farm, and then attended Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge for his high school years. There he met the love of his life, Ella Rabenberg. They were married on September 12,1948 at St. Jacobi Lutheran in Glenham. They made their home north of Glenham on a farm with Ella's parents. In addition to farming his own land, he helped his father-in-law farm for 14 years. Then Norman and Ella moved their family to a new farm close to Mobridge, where he grew certified seed, put in a cleaning plant, and built an elevator. He was joined in the farming operation by son Roger and grandson Jeff. After 42 years, he retired from farming and Norman and Ella moved to Mobridge.

God was the center of Norman's life. He was always involved at church —taught Sunday School, held offices on church council, taught computer classes at Zion Lutheran grade school, helped with Builders for Christ, and served on the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Synodical Council.

He took an active part in his farming profession. He served on the State Crop Improvement Association Board, Foundation Seed Board, and the County Weed Board.

Norman was also involved in his community, participating in Rotary and serving on the Mobridge Regional Hospital board for many years. He was instrumental in planning and building Prairie Sunset Village, where he lived for two years.

He was well known for his fix-it abilities and always knew when a thermathrockle was acting up. He enjoyed all things electronic, computers, clocks, scroll saw art, and traveling.

He is survived by his children, Virginia (Ron) Glock, Roger (Sheila) Frey, Thomas (Deb) Frey, Timothy (Barbara) Frey, and Andrew (Luna) Frey; fourteen grandchildren, Jennifer, Philip, Michael, Abigail, Brent, Jeff, Greg, Darby, Shandra, Kyler, Hannah, Naomi, Makaia, and Magnus; eighteen great grandchildren, Brandon, Tucker, Mathias, Anna, Nathan, Julia, Grace, Grayson, Raegan, Alexis, Brooke, Zane, Ben, Cameron, Alyssa, Raymund, Ella, and Scarlett; one great-great grandson, Henry; and four sisters, Dorothy Rabenberg, Kathryn Hinker, Betty Nolting, Margie (Elmer)Wagner; many nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Norman passed away at Walworth County Care Center where he had lived the past year.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ella, sisters Barbara and Doris, and brothers Harold and Albert.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church, Great Plains Lutheran High School, Martin Luther College, or Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.